Growing up, I went through lots of different phases, including one where I despised the colour pink and would have nothing to do with anything considered stereotypically girly, including rom-coms. That changed immediately after I witnessed the magic of Crazy, Stupid, Love for the first time.
When Emily first steps into the back garden to unknowingly take part in Cal's surprise mini golf game, I had my fingers crossed that the romantic gesture would get them back together. What I got as a viewer was that and then some. In a collision of plot lines, the film brings together Cal, Jacob, babysitter Jessica's dad Bernie, and even Emily's beau David Lindhagen (Kevin Bacon) to duke it out after the tangled web of miscommunication between them unravels.
Cal doesn't know about Jessica's crush on him, but Bernie attacks him anyway. Cal also doesn't know that his playboy relationship advisor Jacob is also his daughter's new boyfriend. And David Lindhagen — who broke up Cal and Emily's relationship in the first place — chooses the perfect time to try and wiggle his way further into her life.
Altogether, this movie builds off of the classic rom-com archetype and adds to it with incredible casting, insightful quotes about love and life, and a climactic ending that ties everyone's stories together.